While their aim remains to provide high impact grants that will make a significant and measurable difference to an under-served cause or population, their intention in 2020 is to help ensure smaller non-profits in the community who are well placed to continue providing widespread benefits into the future.
The plan is by funding $50,000 grants (plus as many smaller grants as possible) in order to support more non-profits. They will be introducing greater flexibility around what the funds can be spent on
shortening timelines to bring their granting date forward to August.
Applications could address immediate response needs, eg transition, crisis grants, specific services that can be provided recovery needs, eg kickstarting services after crisis management, maximising new opportunities.
Applications invited are those that assist families, young people and children at risk in the Greater Sydney region. This encompasses key areas of need including, but not limited to: domestic and family violence, women’s shelters, refugees and asylum seekers, homelessness, poverty, mental health.
They will particularly focus on non-profits helping vulnerable communities impacted by COVID-19. Priority will be given to organisations that deliver more widespread benefit.
It is expected the grant funds will be expended within 12 months.
IMPACT100 Sydney North has a Management Committee made up of donor members which calls for and reviews all applications and makes recommendations for funding to be approved by Australian Communities Foundation as Trustee.
They have a strong preference for organisations with an operating budget of under $5 million.
Applications from organisations with an operating budget over this amount will be accepted at the discretion of the IMPACT100 Sydney North Management Committee.
Reasons for rejection of proposals will not necessarily be given.
If an organisation is selected by their members in the review rounds, organisations will be invited to host a virtual site visit, and if they are selected as a Finalist, they will be given an online presentation to members.
The guidelines continue to evolve and IMPACT100 Sydney North reserves the right to change its criteria without notice at any time.